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Leo Messi: Eight years as FC Barcelona's no.10

It was on 3 August 2008 that the Argentine inherited the coveted shirt from Ronaldinho

It has been eight years since Leo Messi inherited the coveted no.10 jersey from former friend and teammate Ronaldinho.

Messi is part of a list of elite players who have donned the famous shirt as their own, since 1995/96 when permanent numbers came into practice: Ángel Cuéllar (1995/96), Giovanni Silva (1996-99), Jari Litmanen (1999/00), Rivaldo (2000-02), Juan Román Riquelme (2002/03) and Ronaldinho (2003-08).

In the eight years that followed, Messi reached the very summit of the sport, winning the Ballon d’Or five teams as well as a host of other personal achievements.

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Àngel Cuéllar

The winger was the first to wear the no.10 at Barça on a permanent basis. He wore it for one year before Giovanni Silva took over.

2 / 6

Giovanni Silva

The second no.10 at the club was Giovanni Silva, who wore it for three years straight.

3 / 6

Jari Litmanen

The Finnish playmaker donned the shirt in 1999/00, before Rivaldo made it his own.

4 / 6

Rivaldo

The famous Brazilian wore it from 2000 until 2002 after previously wearing the no.11 for three years.

5 / 6

Juan Román Riquelme

Leo Messi was not the first Argentine at Barça to wear the no.10, as the silky attacking midfielder Joan Roman Riquelme did so for one season.

6 / 6

Ronaldinho

The Brazilian magician wore the jersey for no.10 and graced it with countless fine moments before Messi.